A number of years ago there was much talk about the philosophical idea that “God is dead”. That statement meant several different things to different people. One was in response to the major rise in atheism in the last hundred years or so. Another was that with the rise of secular humanism, many people felt that there wasn’t a need for a God anymore. Mankind can help themselves. Many felt that perhaps there may have been a need for some type of god in the past, but with the advancement of mankind, there isn’t that need anymore. Thus, “God has died”. Also, some feel that somehow God must have died, as they look around at all the terrible things happening, wars, floods, famines, etc. and believe He sure isn’t helping anyone anymore. In our psalm for this week, the psalmist is in great distress. He is burdened with some undisclosed problems, and he cries out to God. Does he fear that God is no longer there, that perhaps He has died, or just doesn’t care anymore? Let’s take a look.
The psalmist does not indicate what troubles he was going through, but it was very distressing to him. It was so upsetting to him that it was taking an emotional and physical toll on his health (vs. 3-5). Sometimes when our problems become so overwhelming, we don’t care about even our own basic needs. Many people can attest to some times when they were so distraught that they couldn’t eat, they couldn’t sleep. Doctors have verified the terrible toll that stress can take upon both our physical and emotional health. We also often feel very alone, perhaps even vulnerable, when we are going through terrible troubles. Our psalmist compared himself, while going through his problems, to a bird out all alone in the wilderness or desert. Even to a small bird, alone and vulnerable to predators on a rooftop (vs. 6-7). He was feeling desolate and lonely.
Though his trials are distressing, our psalmist does not give up his belief and hope in help from the Lord God. This psalm was given a subtitle - “A prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed and pours out his complaint before the Lord.” The psalmist speaks for all of the afflicted, who must rely totally on God for relief. He reflects on the unchanging nature of God, especially in how He deals with mankind. Our psalmist would not be one of those people who in the last several decades have declared that “God is dead”. He declares that God endures forever (vs. 12), and His years have no end (vs. 27). After declaring his prayer to God for help, he shifts his focus from off of his problems and on to God. He turns his eyes from off of himself and from off of earth, and onto God and heaven.
Our psalmist knew beyond any shadow of a doubt that God existed, that He was alive and active, not only in his life, but in all of creation. God is eternal, which is one of his many magnificent characteristics. He has always existed, having had no beginning, and is eternal, with no end. He will never die.
In all that eternalness, we do not need ever fear that God will forget us. He will protect and help His people today, as in the past. God is always the same. He isn’t one way towards us today, and then has a personality change tomorrow (James 1:17). We can depend on Him being the same to us as His Word declares (Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 13:8).
God is the Creator of all things (vs. 25-27). He is eternally with us and will keep all of His promises, even though at times we may feel so alone. God, alone, is our comfort and strength. Even when we are too weak to fight, we can lean upon Him. Because God is living, eternal, and unchanging we can trust Him to help His children in this generation, just as He helped His children in past generations.
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